Device for loading cutlery in dishwasher machines

ABSTRACT

A dishwasher machine with a device for loading crockery or cutlery, which enables the cutlery to be carefully placed in the washing container in an easily accessible, space-saving manner, is provided. A separate loading device or cutlery basket is provided in the crockery basket of the dishwasher machine that is at least partially integrated into the main loading plane of the crockery basket and is arranged on the crockery basket in such a way that it can be displaced between an inserted position and a loading position. As a result, the cutlery basket can be advantageously displaced independently of the crockery basket, and thus out of the washing container of the dishwasher, from the front, without the crockery basket itself having to be displaced, thus simplifying the loading or unloading of crockery or cutlery from the cutlery basket.

The subject matter of the present invention is a dishwasher machine comprising a device for stacking items to be washed, in particular for stacking cutlery pieces.

It is known to arrange the items to be washed in the washing container of a dishwashing machine in one or a plurality of crockery baskets. Such crockery baskets usually consist of a plastic-coated wire mesh and are usually displaceably mounted at the side walls of the washing container so that they can be removed from the washing container when the front door of a built-under dishwashing machine is opened. In order to accommodate cutlery pieces, a separate module in the form of a cutlery basket is frequently provided in the lower crockery basket and this cutlery basket can usually be removed from the crockery basket. A disadvantage of known cutlery baskets is that they are preferably accommodated in the lower crockery basket and are therefore awkward and unergonomic to load.

In a further known device for stacking cutlery pieces, in addition to the crockery baskets, a cutlery drawer is provided for stacking cutlery pieces in the upper region of the washing container, which cutlery basket can be inserted into and withdrawn from the washing container of the dishwashing machine. However, such cutlery drawers have the disadvantage that they require a large space in the washing container which is therefore lost for accommodating further items to be washed; in addition, the manufacturing costs of the dishwashing machine are increased by the installation of an additional cutlery basket.

DE 199 25 312 discloses a separate cutlery tray which is placed on the crockery basket and displaceably mounted via longitudinal struts. The displacement movement of the cutlery tray is delimited by means of a stop so that the withdrawn cutlery tray is secured against tipping. This cutlery tray has the disadvantage that as a result of the arrangement above the crockery basket, the storage space in and above the cutlery tray is limited either by the movement space of a rotating spray arm, the upper crockery basket or by the roof of the washing container. Thus, larger cutlery pieces cannot be accommodated in the cutlery tray according to DE 199 25 312 and smaller cutlery pieces can only be placed in a horizontal position. Furthermore, as a result of the arrangement of the cutlery tray above the crockery basket, the storage space in the crockery basket is restricted at the top and access to the crockery or cutlery pieces accommodated in the crockery basket is impeded.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a dishwashing machine with a device for stacking cutlery pieces which counters these disadvantages and allows crockery and cutlery pieces to be accommodated in an easily accessible, space-saving and careful manner in the washing container.

These objects are achieved by the dishwashing machine according to the invention having the features according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the present invention are each characterised in the dependent claims 2 to 13.

The dishwashing machine according to the present invention has at least one crockery basket which has a substantially horizontal main stacking plane and a separate stacking device for stacking items to be washed, in particular a cutlery basket for stacking cutlery pieces, wherein the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is integrated at least partly in the main stacking plane of the crockery basket and at the same time is mounted on the crockery basket such that it can be displaced between a loading position and an inserted position. In this case, integration of the cutlery basket in the main stacking plane of the crockery basket means that at least a part of the base area of the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket occupies a certain part of the main stacking plane of the crockery basket, wherein the main stacking plane corresponds to the base area or the stacking area of the crockery basket which is defined by the surround or by the side walls of the crockery basket.

The dishwashing machine according to the invention has the advantage that as a result of the displaceable mounting of the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket on the crockery basket, the separate stacking device can be displaced independently of the crockery basket of the dishwashing machine whereby the separate stacking device can be withdrawn from the crockery basket without the crockery basket itself needing to be moved. As a result, the separate stacking device can preferably be withdrawn forwards from the crockery basket and thus from the washing container of the dishwashing machine, which facilitates loading of the separate stacking device or the removal of crockery or cutlery pieces.

The dishwashing machine according to the invention also has the advantage that in addition to the crockery baskets, no additional drawer mounted on the side wall of the washing container is required to accommodate the cutlery pieces without dispensing with the comfort of a cutlery drawer. As a result of the displaceable mounting of the cutlery basket in the crockery basket according to the present invention, a differentiation between standard models and special designs of dishwashing machines or crockery baskets can be presented better both with regard to the function and also the visual appearance. Further advantages of the dishwashing machine according to the present invention are obtained from the following description of preferred embodiments.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is integrated in an upper crockery basket of the dishwashing machine. This improves the accessibility of the crockery or cutlery pieces accommodated in the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket. This also brings about an ergonomic improvement since an operator no longer needs to bend so low to load or remove crockery or cutlery pieces from the cutlery basket integrated in the upper crockery basket than if the cutlery basket is arranged in the lower crockery basket.

As a result of the arrangement of the cutlery basket in the upper crockery basket, no additional possibility for accommodating cutlery pieces in the lower crockery basket is required so that the lower crockery basket can be used more universally on account of the space which has become free. In addition, a better drying result is achieved with the cutlery mounted in the upper basket since a higher temperature prevails in the upper region of the washing container during the drying process than in the lower region of the washing container.

Appropriately, the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket has a height which substantially corresponds to the height of the crockery basket. In this case, the bottom of the separate stacking device lies substantially at the same height as the main stacking plane of the crockery basket whereas the upper edge of the side walls of the separate stacking device lies substantially at the same height as the upper edge of the side walls of the crockery basket. The construction of the separate stacking device at a height which substantially corresponds to the height of the crockery basket has the advantage that the overall height of the crockery basket or the cutlery basket is available for stowing the cutlery pieces so that large and bulky crockery or cutlery pieces can also be stowed therein.

Since the cutlery basket is integrated in the crockery basket, the cutlery basket is automatically withdrawn during withdrawal of the crockery basket from the washing container of the dishwashing machine. As described above, however, the cutlery basket according to the present invention can also be withdrawn from the crockery basket and therefore from the washing container of the dishwashing machine without the crockery basket needing to be moved since the cutlery basket is displaceably mounted in the crockery basket. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is mounted on the crockery basket so that it can be displaced between the inserted position and the loading position preferably on rollers or runners by means of a rail system. The combination of a rail system with a sliding mounting of the cutlery basket by means of rollers or runners allows a low-friction and therefore simple movement of the cutlery basket between the inserted position and the loading position.

It is particularly advantageous if the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is mounted safe from tipping and displaceably on the crockery basket such that tipping of the crockery basket during displacement and in particular in the loading position, is prevented. The separate stacking device or the cutlery basket can be guided by different systems for linear guidance, e.g. rail systems, in the crockery basket. For this purpose, for example, at least one rail is arranged on the crockery basket which has a hollow profile having a substantially U-shaped cross-section in which the runners or rollers joined to the cutlery basket are movably mounted. As a result, tilting movements which can occur due to the displacement or the loading of the cutlery basket are supported by the rail system in any direction. The rail itself is preferably mounted so that it can be displaced in the horizontal direction on the crockery basket so that the cutlery basket can be completely withdrawn from the crockery basket in the loading position. The displacement movement of the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is appropriately limited by a stop which prevents any displacement of the cutlery basket from the inserted position beyond the loading position.

In order to achieve a user-friendly and unhindered withdrawal movement of the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket, the cutlery basket is arranged in an outer region of the crockery basket so that in the inserted position a side wall of the cutlery basket is aligned substantially parallel to a side wall, preferably the front wall of the crockery basket. As a result, in the dishwashing machine according to the invention, the crockery pieces in the separate stacking device or the cutlery pieces in the cutlery basket are easily accessible, in particular if the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is arranged on the front side of a displaceably mounted crockery basket which can be withdrawn from the washing container of a built-under dishwashing machine via this front side.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is arranged in a corner region of the crockery basket so that in the inserted position, two adjoining side walls of the cutlery basket are each aligned substantially parallel to the front wall and to a side wall of the crockery basket. Since the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is arranged in a corner region of the crockery basket, on the one hand the cutlery basket can easily be used and on the other hand, the inner region of the crockery basket can be used exclusively for stacking other items to be washed.

In addition, the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket can be arranged in an outer region of the crockery basket so that in the inserted position, at least one side wall of the cutlery basket is at least partly a side wall, preferably at least a part of the front wall of the crockery basket. For this purpose, the cutlery basket is preferably configured and arranged on the crockery basket in such a manner that in its inserted position, at least one of its side walls is aligned with a side wall of the crockery basket, in particular the front wall of the crockery basket.

The separate stacking device or the cutlery basket can also be arranged in a corner region of the crockery basket so that in the inserted position, at least two adjoining side walls of the cutlery basket are in each case at least a part of the front wall and at least a part of a side wall of the crockery basket. For this purpose, the cutlery basket is preferably configured and arranged on the crockery basket in such a manner that in its inserted position, at least two side walls of the cutlery basket are each aligned with the front wall and at least one side wall of the crockery basket. In this way, in addition to the cutlery basket being convenient to use, an attractive appearance of the crockery basket with the integrated cutlery basket is achieved.

A further advantage is achieved if the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is mounted detachably on the crockery basket. The cutlery basket can thus be removed from its holder on the crockery basket or exchanged for easier loading or removal of crockery or cutlery pieces. The separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is appropriately fitted with a handle which preferably projects upwards over the height of the cutlery basket and by which means the cutlery basket can be moved or removed from the crockery basket. Alternatively or additionally, the cutlery basket can also be fitted with a handle which projects over the front wall of the crockery basket at least partly in the horizontal direction and by which means the cutlery basket can be withdrawn from the crockery basket or from the washing container.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the separate stacking device or the cutlery basket is provided with aids for suitable arrangement and storage of particular crockery pieces, in particular for suitable arrangement and storage of cutlery pieces in the cutlery basket, which promote the separation of the crockery or cutlery pieces as well as their cleaning during the washing operation of the dishwashing machine. By this means, a clearly visible arrangement of the cutlery pieces in particular positions in the device can be achieved and contact of the cutlery pieces can be prevented, which prevents damage to the cutlery pieces or the development of noise during the washing operation. Alternatively to a cutlery basket, a separate stacking device can be arranged on the crockery basket in the manner described above according to the present invention, which is suitable for stacking any other crockery pieces.

The present invention is explained in detail hereinafter using a preferred embodiment with reference to the appended drawings. The FIGURE shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a dishwashing machine according to the present invention.

In detail the drawing shows a built-under dishwashing machine 1 comprising a washing container 2 which is closed by a hinged door 3 pivotally mounted on the front side of the dishwashing machine 1. Located in the washing container 2 is an upper crockery basket 7 and a lower crockery basket 12 which are each displaceably mounted on the side wall of the washing container 2 so that they can be withdrawn from the washing container 2 for loading or removal of crockery or cutlery pieces from the washing container 2. In the situation shown in the drawing, the hinged door 3 of the dishwashing machine 1 is opened and the upper crockery basket 7 is withdrawn from the washing container 2 whilst the lower crockery basket 12 is completely inserted in the washing container 2 which is why only the front wall of the lower crockery basket 12 can be identified.

The upper crockery basket 7 has a substantially horizontal main stacking plane 6 which corresponds to the base area or the stacking area of the crockery basket 7 which is defined by the surround or by the side walls of the crockery basket 7. The upper crockery basket 7 comprises a separate stacking device 5 for stacking items to be washed which is embodied as a cutlery basket in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing, which in particular is used for stacking cutlery pieces. The cutlery basket 5 is mounted on the crockery basket 7 so that it can be displaced in the directions indicated by the double arrow between an inserted position and a loading position. In the situation shown in the drawing, the cutlery basket 5 is located in the loading position, that is the cutlery basket 5 is substantially completely withdrawn from the crockery basket 7 and accordingly projects forwards over the front wall 4 of the crockery basket 7.

The cutlery basket 5 is integrated in the main stacking plane 6 of the crockery basket 7, that is the base area of the cutlery basket 5 occupies a part of the main stacking plane 6 of the crockery basket 7 in the inserted position of the cutlery basket 5. In this case, a recess for the cutlery basket 5 is provided in the main stacking plane 6 of the crockery basket 7, its size substantially corresponding to the base area of the cutlery basket 5.

As a result of the displaceable mounting of the cutlery basket 5 on the crockery basket 7, the cutlery basket 5 can be displaced horizontally independently of the crockery basket 7 of the dishwashing machine 1. In this way, the cutlery basket 5 can be withdrawn forwards from the crockery basket 7 and thus from the washing container 2 of the dishwashing machine 1 without the crockery basket 7 needing to be moved. Nevertheless, as a result of the cutlery basket 5 being integrated in the crockery basket 7, the cutlery basket 5 is automatically withdrawn from the washing container 2 of the dishwashing machine 1 during withdrawal of the crockery basket 7. The withdrawal of the cutlery basket 5 from the crockery basket 7 and therefore from the washing container 2 of the dishwashing machine according to the present invention facilitates the loading or removal or crockery or cutlery pieces from the cutlery basket 5.

The cutlery basket 5 has a height which substantially corresponds to the height of the crockery basket 7. In this case, the bottom of the cutlery basket 5 is located substantially at the same height as the main stacking plane 6 of the crockery basket 7 whilst the upper edge of the side walls of the cutlery basket 5 lies substantially at the same height as the upper edge of the side walls 4, 8 of the crockery basket 7. As a result, the entire height of the crockery basket 7 or the cutlery basket 5 is available for stowing the cutlery pieces so that long and bulky cutlery pieces can also be stowed in the cutlery basket 5.

The cutlery basket 5 is mounted slidingly and safe from tilting on the crockery basket 7 by means of a rail system 9, the cutlery basket 5 being mounted on rollers 10 such that it can be displaced between the inserted position and the loading position in the directions indicated by the double arrow. For this purpose, a rail 9 having a hollow profile with a substantially U-shaped cross-section is provided on both sides of the cutlery basket 5. The rollers 10 connected to the cutlery basket 5 can be moved in the hollow profile in such a manner that tilting moments which can occur due to the displacement or loading of the cutlery basket 5 are supported in each direction. In addition, the rail itself is mounted on the crockery basket 7 so that it can be displaced in the horizontal direction to allow a complete withdrawal of the cutlery basket 5 from the crockery basket 7 into the locating position. In this case, the displacement movement of the cutlery basket 5 is limited by a stop so that any displacement of the cutlery basket 5 from the inserted position beyond the loading position is prevented.

The cutlery basket 5 is arranged in a corner region of the crockery basket 7 in such a manner that in the inserted position, the front wall and the outer side wall of the cutlery basket 5 are each aligned substantially parallel to the front wall and the adjoining side wall 8 of the crockery basket 7 and are aligned with these. In addition, the crockery basket 5 is constructed and arranged in such a manner that in the inserted position, the front wall and the outer side wall of the cutlery basket 5 each form a part of the front wall 4 and a part of the adjoining side wall 8 of the crockery basket 7. The front wall 4 and the adjoining side wall 8 of the crockery basket 7 are accordingly recessed in the area of the cutlery basket 5.

The cutlery basket 5 is detachably mounted on the crockery basket 7 so that the cutlery basket 5 can be removed from its holder on the crockery basket 7 for easier loading or removal of crockery or cutlery pieces or for exchange. For this purpose, the cutlery basket 5 is fitted with a handle 11 which projects upwards over the height of the cutlery basket 5 and by which means the cutlery basket 5 can be moved or withdrawn from the crockery basket 7. As has already been mentioned, the separate stacking device need not necessarily be formed as a cutlery basket 5 but a stacking device suitable for stacking any other crockery pieces can also be arranged on the crockery basket 7 in the manner described above according to the present invention.

REFERENCE LIST

-   1 Dishwashing machine -   2 Washing container -   3 Hinged door -   4 Front wall of crockery basket -   5 Separate stacking device or cutlery basket -   6 Main stacking plane of crockery basket -   7 Upper crockery basket -   8 Side wall of crockery basket -   9 Rail system for displaceable mounting of cutlery basket -   10 Rollers for displaceable mounting of cutlery basket -   11 Handle on cutlery basket -   12 Lower crockery basket 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A dishwashing machine comprising: a washing container; at least one crockery basket having a substantially horizontal main stacking plane and a separate stacking device for stacking items to be washed, the separate stacking device being at least partly integrated in the main stacking plane of the crockery basket and being mounted on the crockery basket for movement of the separate stacking device between an inserted position and a loading position.
 15. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device has a height that substantially corresponds to the height of the crockery basket.
 16. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device is mounted relative to the crockery basket to minimize a risk of tipping of the crockery basket during displacement movement of the separate stacking device between its inserted position and its loading position.
 17. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device is mounted on the crockery basket so that it can be displaced between the inserted position and the loading position preferably on rollers or runners by means of a rail system.
 18. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device is limited by a stop that prevents any displacement of the cutlery basket beyond the loading position.
 19. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device is arranged in an outer region of the crockery basket so that, in the inserted position, a side wall of the separate stacking device is aligned substantially parallel to a side wall, preferably a front wall, of the crockery basket.
 20. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device is arranged in a corner region of the crockery basket so that, in the inserted position, two adjoining side walls of the separate stacking device are each aligned substantially parallel to the front wall and to a side wall of the crockery basket.
 21. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device is arranged in an outer region of the crockery basket so that in the inserted position, at least one side wall of the separate stacking device is at least partly a side wall, preferably at least a part of the front wall, of the crockery basket.
 22. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device is arranged in a corner region of the crockery basket so that in the inserted position, two adjoining side walls of the separate stacking device are in each case at least a part of the front wall and at least a part of a side wall of the crockery basket.
 23. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device is integrated in an upper crockery basket of the dishwashing machine.
 24. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device is mounted detachably on the crockery basket.
 25. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device has a handle that preferably projects upwardly over the height of the separate stacking device and by which means the separate stacking device can be selectively moved and removed from the crockery basket.
 26. The dishwashing machine according to claim 14, wherein the separate stacking device includes aids for suitable arrangement and storage of particular crockery or cutlery pieces in the cutlery basket. 